United Church of Christ, Northern California Nevada Conference

Last updated: 12/3/2004 at 1 PM
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Northern California Nevada Conference United Church of Christ

Annotated transcript of report from CNN Newsnight with Aaron Brown

The following is the transcript of CNN's coverage of the controversy surrounding the StillSpeaking ads; the story followed one about the Methodist Church trial of the Rev. Elizabeth Stroud who recently came out to her congregation.

Seen on screen From the CNN transcript

BROWN: Reverend Stroud and her partner were married in a church affiliated with the United Church of Christ, which says something about how that denomination sees this issue. The church would like to tell a lot of people how it sees a lot of issues but is having a hard time getting its message heard.

No. Step aside please. No way.
Not you. I don't think so. BROWN (voice-over): The images are stark. They are meant to be.

The United Church of Christ is trying to reach those

who may feel rejected by other denominations,

minorities,

the young,

gays.

RON BUFORD, COORDINATOR, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: Our message is a message of inclusion that everyone is welcome no matter who they are or where they are in life's journey.

BROWN: But this commercial is not welcome on the top three broadcast networks, although it will air on network affiliates and many cable networks, including CNN.

A spokesperson from ABC told CNN "We do not generally accept paid advertising that espouses a particular religious doctrine." CBS told CNN that they "have a longstanding policy of not accepting advocacy or issue-oriented ads." In a memo sent to the church, CBS went a bit further saying, "Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and the fact that the executive branch has recently proposed a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the networks." In another memo sent to the church, NBC rejected the ad as "too controversial."

God accepts all the people -- All the people --
so do we. But apparently both CBS and NBC will accept another less pointed commercial scheduled to run later this month.
The church says that their initial ad has already aired in several test markets, both red and blue states, without public complaint and the church says it doesn't see why it should be blocked from the airwaves.

the United Church of Christ. No matter who you are
or where you are on life's journey,
you're welcome here. -- All the people. BUFORD: But I think the most controversial thing is whether or not we're going to be denied free expression of the practice of our religion or freedom of speech. That is the most controversial thing of all.

BROWN: Alex Ben Block, the editor of "Television Week," agrees.
ALEX BEN BLOCK, EDITOR, "TELEVISION WEEK": And I think what's really going on here is that there's a great chill over television and over media today because of the shift to the right in our society and because nobody really knows what the rules are at the FCC anymore and everybody is afraid to offend.

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this page last updated on Sunday, August 6, 2006

Seen on screen	From the CNN transcript
	BROWN: Reverend Stroud and her partner were married in a church affiliated with the United Church of Christ, which says something about how that denomination sees this issue. The church would like to tell a lot of people how it sees a lot of issues but is having a hard time getting its message heard.
No. Step aside please. No way. Not you. I don't think so.	BROWN (voice-over): The images are stark. They are meant to be.
	The United Church of Christ is trying to reach those
	who may feel rejected by other denominations,
	minorities,
	the young,
	gays.
	RON BUFORD, COORDINATOR, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: Our message is a message of inclusion that everyone is welcome no matter who they are or where they are in life's journey.
	BROWN: But this commercial is not welcome on the top three broadcast networks, although it will air on network affiliates and many cable networks, including CNN.
	A spokesperson from ABC told CNN "We do not generally accept paid advertising that espouses a particular religious doctrine." CBS told CNN that they "have a longstanding policy of not accepting advocacy or issue-oriented ads." In a memo sent to the church, CBS went a bit further saying, "Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and the fact that the executive branch has recently proposed a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the networks." In another memo sent to the church, NBC rejected the ad as "too controversial."
God accepts all the people -- All the people -- so do we.	But apparently both CBS and NBC will accept another less pointed commercial scheduled to run later this month. The church says that their initial ad has already aired in several test markets, both red and blue states, without public complaint and the church says it doesn't see why it should be blocked from the airwaves.
the United Church of Christ. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here. -- All the people.	BUFORD: But I think the most controversial thing is whether or not we're going to be denied free expression of the practice of our religion or freedom of speech. That is the most controversial thing of all.
	BROWN: Alex Ben Block, the editor of "Television Week," agrees. ALEX BEN BLOCK, EDITOR, "TELEVISION WEEK": And I think what's really going on here is that there's a great chill over television and over media today because of the shift to the right in our society and because nobody really knows what the rules are at the FCC anymore and everybody is afraid to offend.